[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15385]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

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                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 16, 2012

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise small business 
owners and employees who contribute so much to their local communities. 
Through the Small Business Saturday event to be held on November 24th, 
2012, people around the country will demonstrate their appreciation for 
the businesses that make their communities unique.
  The days following Thanksgiving have become a time of windfall sales 
revenue for many retail businesses. In the past, however, small 
businesses without large advertising budgets have not seen the same 
success as their larger counterparts. In 2010, Small Business Saturday 
was created to encourage consumers to utilize their local vendors. I 
commend the communities that participate every year and especially 
those who will begin this year.
  This will be the first year the Village of Oak Lawn formally 
participates in Small Business Saturday. Thanks to the work of the Oak 
Lawn Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Saturday Oak Lawn will no 
doubt be a hugely successful event, highlighting the local flavor that 
these establishments provide. A trolley will shuttle shoppers along Oak 
Lawn's bustling 95th Street to visit the various businesses and the 
village will simultaneously hold its annual Santa on the Green for 
local youth. This is a great event not only for Oak Lawn businesses but 
also for residents of the village and surrounding communities.
  Small businesses represent the hopes and dreams of so many hard 
working and creative entrepreneurs, and have long been the backbone of 
the American economy. The individuals who create and work at small 
businesses represent half of all private sector American jobs and 
generate over 60% of the new jobs in our recovering economy. In many 
cities and villages, small businesses are what keep Main Street 
communities alive and thriving. Such vendors are best suited to cater 
to the unique needs of these small and distinctive towns, and so our 
continued support is more important than ever.
  Please join me in honoring those who have worked hard to start Small 
Business Saturday around the country and of course the small businesses 
that make it all possible. May the event be a resounding success.

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